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What is the best way to wire ceiling lights?

Arran Cameron
The ceiling rose junction box with its loop-in wiring is now really showing its age and is no longer a practical (or even safe) installation for most residents who wish to install fancy light fittings. It is still, however, the most common arrangement for new build houses and rewires, probably as the result of the electrician's training and how they consider it to be the norm or they cannot think of (potentially better) alternatives.


So, what is the best way to wire ceiling lights? Should neutral wires be taken to the switches or not?
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    are unable or unwilling to add these advanced features or offer anything truly different from the standard fare

     



    But these "advanced features" are expensive. When expensive stuff does not fulfill "customer expectation" [ code for "you will give me what I want even though I have no real idea myself but expect a free design and consultation all the same" ] you fully expect the Sparky to come back several times after the event to replace the failed expensive item FOC , give you yet another tutorial on "how it works"  and offer slavery indemnity for life.

    we all know what a pain in the *** they are to fit, no matter which style of wiring has been done at the ceiling rose. 

     



    Yep, microscopic tunnel terminals. Only big enough for bell wire. That reminds me, twenty years ago or so, a so called reputable Electrical Engineer [ made a big deal of being high up in IEE ] called me into to his house "to sort out some problems". He was a bit of a have a go hero, but hey ho , he was IEE. The resultant DIY wiring would make any self respecting  sparky weep. Yes the lights were wired in bell wire, but that was the least of the problems.

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    are unable or unwilling to add these advanced features or offer anything truly different from the standard fare

     



    But these "advanced features" are expensive. When expensive stuff does not fulfill "customer expectation" [ code for "you will give me what I want even though I have no real idea myself but expect a free design and consultation all the same" ] you fully expect the Sparky to come back several times after the event to replace the failed expensive item FOC , give you yet another tutorial on "how it works"  and offer slavery indemnity for life.

    we all know what a pain in the *** they are to fit, no matter which style of wiring has been done at the ceiling rose. 

     



    Yep, microscopic tunnel terminals. Only big enough for bell wire. That reminds me, twenty years ago or so, a so called reputable Electrical Engineer [ made a big deal of being high up in IEE ] called me into to his house "to sort out some problems". He was a bit of a have a go hero, but hey ho , he was IEE. The resultant DIY wiring would make any self respecting  sparky weep. Yes the lights were wired in bell wire, but that was the least of the problems.

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